When Wayne Gretzky Taught Michael Jordan a Vegas Lesson He’d Never Forget

Michael Jordan, often hailed as the greatest basketball player of all time, rarely finds himself outplayed—on or off the court. But one night in Las Vegas, he was dealt a humbling lesson not by a rival NBA star, but by another GOAT: hockey legend Wayne Gretzky.

According to former Hard Rock Hotel VP Rich Strafella, Jordan was playing poker in a private parlor when he ordered a drink and casually tipped the waitress a $5 casino chip.

Gretzky, watching closely, stepped in with a bold move.

“Wayne took the $5 chip off her tray, handed it back to Michael, grabbed a $100 chip from MJ’s stack, and said, ‘This is how we tip in Vegas, Michael,’” Strafella recalled.

The story quickly became legend, with many viewing it as a rare moment where Jordan was publicly corrected—and learned from it.

Though Jordan is known for his fierce competitiveness and success, this Vegas encounter reportedly changed the way he tipped forever.

Even legends have room to grow.